It's really great to see one of our politicians answer questions as if they were actually a public servant concerned with the good of the country. I mean, obviously.

But it's equally tragic how unique it is for a politician to answer like that, and how many people in her own party (in addition to 99% of Republicans) will assume it is BS political talking points to suggest that somebody is serving a high profile political position for any reason other than blind personal ambition.

I'd vote for John Stewart if I was American. Look up how he supported the 911 firemen. He is the right mix of popular to be a viable candidate and obviously principled enough to be a second Obama.

"single payer healthcare is forever"

The chronically underfunded NHS creaks as I weep.

I don't disagree with her point though. In the UK, after decades of neoliberalism reigning supreme, I am often extremely depressed at how it's changed things culturally. I was born in the 90s, so all of my life, I have seen the people who are struggling most scrutinised ever closer, and the state becomes more and more like a business.

If the NHS didn't already exist, I can't fathom there being political will to implement it right now. There would be far too much outcry over people "reaping rewards from the system despite not contributing to it". There was that kind of opposition when the NHS was founded too, but far less of it. It was a different world. As I understand it, the Reagan and Thatcher era of politics were a big part of what caused things to change.

Learning the history helps ground me. A political philosopher I read a bunch of last year who influenced me greatly was Frederic Jameson, who advocated that we should "always historicise", because connecting to our history is a great tool in resisting the cultural logic of late stage capitalism.

Or to put it a different way: the society we live in has a way of making itself seem eternal and immutable, but things have not always been this way, and they need not always remain this way. If AOC spearheaded a campaign that led to single payer healthcare, but the scheme was later repealed, that achievement would still last forever, in that it could serve as a template for those in future.

I don't know if any of this makes sense. I'm just depressed and trying to clutch at hope. I'd say I don't know if it's working, but hey, I'm still alive — that's something. I should probably get some sleep though

Speechless to old white redneck fucksticks perhaps. To the rest of us she sounds like a goddam American patriot who has the good of THIS fucking country in her heart.

Something like 75% of American voters want universal health care, 90% of Democrat voters want it, and over 50% of Independents.

(these are approximations there are many polls pick your favorite)

Unfortunately, in the USA it's "donations" that control legislation, cash is king. Our reps have two choices... do what Americans want (healthcare, higher wages and benefits, less bombs), or do what makes them and their entire family filthy rich.

It's hard to resist the allure of money, they won't give it up willingly. Landing leadership positions means millions of dollars a year, cushy political appointments (like your husband/wife landing an abassadorship to Bermuda), and other fantastic benefits, it's blatant.

There won't be anymore meaningful elections in the US. Just pageantry.

Everything that we thought made our country different and agencies for "checks and balances" were just an illusion

Man, AOC vs Trump 2024 would have been soooo epic.

Even if she lost, still better to put a good foot forward than what they ended up doing

I already have an AOC 2028 shirt my maga fil got it for me, I'm not quite sure he expected me to like it as much as I do.

Sadly, I fear the Dems keep her around for the same reason they keep Bernie.

To keep them reigned in so they don't become a threat to the old money powers. The last thing the Dems want is for them to splinter off into a viable third party, gain traction and actually make life better for the poor.

Keep your friends close and all that...

I'd vote for her. I'd also vote for Bernie again, if he ran again. I don't care about his age, all that would matter is he got into office, and established a cabinet, and had a good Vice President to take over.

That’s my girl.

This headline makes me want to kick someone’s trashcan.

I 100% get not committing to run right now, it would be stupid to do so.

"In this op-ed that Bezos paid for in The Washington Post, there was a veiled threat — it was the elite saying if you want this job, you just stepped out of line," said Ocasio-Cortez. "What’s funny about that is they assume my ambition is positional. They assume my ambition is a title or a seat. My ambition is way bigger than that. My ambition is to change this country. Presidents come and go, elected officials come and go, single payer healthcare is forever."

But I sure as fuck hope she realizes becoming president is our best shot at that.

Shed drive down ballot races like Obama did, but isn't as cocky and obsessed with personal power to ignore the DNC after winning like Obama did. Shed name a progressive chair.

Bringing in a wave of progressives and putting the party firmly on the progressive side of the divide is absolutely the biggest thing she (or anyone) can do to get us single payer healthcare.

So like I said, hopefully she's planning to run, just smart enough to not say it yet.